Norwich - City of Culture 2013

20-year-old Martin Watters has made a film to help with Norwich's bid to be UK City of Culture in 2013.

The film was played to the judging panel in Liverpool during the city’s presentation earlier this month and brilliantly captures the gems in Norwich’s cultural crown in just over one minute.

Norwich is battling it out with Birmingham, Derry-Londonderry and Sheffield for the prize, which would be worth an estimated £215 million to the city and see it host a year-long international arts festival involving every community.

It is hoped the video - which can be seen onwww.norwichcityofculture.co.ukand YouTube - will prove a powerful visual reminder of what Norwich has to offer and why it should be awarded the title in July.

“The video is really saying the confidence is there that Norwich can be the UK City of Culture in 2013,” says Martin. “Apparently it looked fantastic on the big screen they had in the boardroom in Liverpool and the team received some compliments after the presentation.”

To a brassy, jazz soundtrack, images of the city whizz along, fusing the heritage of Norwich Cathedral, City Hall and Norwich Castle with parkour groups leaping on and off scaffolding and walls and circus and cabaret performers wowing audiences across the city.

Independent shops, bars and cafes in the Norwich Lanes are also taken in on the fast-moving tour, as well as some of the city’s diverse arts venues, including The Theatre Royal, Cinema City and Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

As the music and intense drumming reaches a climax, a glow lantern is released into the night sky and fireworks bring the film to an explosive finale.

“We wanted to show the buildings of Norwich but really surprise people,” says Martin, who also produced a three-and-a-half minute video for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2010.

“There is a perception that the city is a quiet little place with two cathedrals and lots of churches and quite historical. So in the first shot we see a burlesque performer from one of the regular Bo Nanafana nights.

"You see The Forum and some shots of other iconic city buildings just to set the scene, but then it takes a look at what is happening with young people in the community at Future Projects, The Garage, NORCA and Open. After that the music creates the narrative for a full-on cultural spin.”